Circus World Museum In Baraboo (12 miles south of the Dells), see exhibits and shows on the grounds of the original Ringling Brothers Circus winter quarters. Kids can create a circus performance at KidsWorld Circus. circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org

Dells Boat Tours See the Dells’ signature sandstone cliffs from a double-decker boat. Sunset tours feature dinner, live music and a shoreline stroll under lit torches. dellsboats.com

Devil’s Lake State Park Its 29 miles of hiking trails and 5 miles of off-road bike trails wind along the spring-fed lake and through rocky forests. dnr.state.wi.us

International Crane Foundation A trip to the Dells means you're only minutes away from this Baraboo animal habitat, the one place in the world where all 15 species of cranes live. Take guided or self-guided tours through savanna and tallgrass prairie, see whooping cranes in a wetland and learn about preservation efforts. savingcranes.org

Mirror Lake State Park Three miles from the Dells, this park—named for its calm lake that reflects a wooded shoreline—offers a quiet retreat. Bike, boat, canoe and kayak rentals are offered; the lake also has a beach. dnr.state.wi.us

Noah’s Ark Water Park Spend the day on lazy rivers, bumper boats and rides like a twisty, water roller coaster at America’s largest water park. noahsarkwaterpark.com

Original Wisconsin Ducks World War II-Era “Duck” vehicles go off-road past fern-filled canyons and through thick woods before plunging into Lake Delton. wisconsinducktours.com

The Tommy Bartlett Show Still going strong after 50 years, the show on Lake Delton wows audiences with water stunts, jugglers and daredevils. tommybartlett.com

Eat

Brat House Grill Dig into beer-soaked brats and German spaetzle at this family-friendly tavern in a former church. brathousedells.com

Carvelli’s Pizza and Pasta House Calabria-region cooking inspires dishes like veal ravioli with porcini mushrooms at a family-owned spot. carvellis.com

Resorts If you want to settle in for fun at the same place you sleep, consider resorts like these: Chula Vista for an indoor water park and golf (chulavistaresort.com); Great Wolf Lodge for kid-friendly accommodations (greatwolf.com); Mt. Olympus for a Greco-Roman-theme water park (mtolympuspark.com); Spring Brook for fishing and golf (spring-brook.com); Wilderness for either family-friendly or quiet getaways (wildernessresort.com).